Foresters occupy a considerable place in fairy tales and, indeed, in some tales of horror. But they are, in fact, in this country significant agents to our economic progression. Also, contact with the comparative silence of woods, and contemplation of the marvels of nature, from the sprouting seed to the majestic tree, seems to bring to them a serene disposition and a nice, easy nature. Well, this coming weekend the Society of Irish Foresters is organising a show or festival which will give visitors an insight into their world, with three days, May 9-11 at Kinnity, County Offaly.
Kinnity, at the foot of the Slieve Bloom mountains is quite a place. You won't be crowded. And the children are well catered for, with a special forest on its own set aside for them, with quizzes and puzzles and little model houses of wood and other entertainments. The whole, said John McLoughlin of Coillte, will have something of the atmosphere of the ploughing championships about it. There will be marquees and catering vans and so on. Above all, the foresters will be throwing out their chests, for, they tell us in a hand out, theirs is one of the fastest developing sectors in the Irish economy. By the turn of the century - tomorrow almost - Ireland will be a net exporter of timber for the first time in 300 years.
Kinnity Castle and its forest is worth a visit on its own, anyway. And a brochure of the amenities of the Castle and its cuisine etc. informs us that there is a Celtic Cross in the grounds dating back to the 7th century. But, to the show. There will be a huge interest, with up to 200 stands, trade, education, forest research, wood products, craft displays. There will be "leisure forestry and forest history". Plus, of course, guided walks. Forestry is a biggish employer, apart from being an education in itself. Over 16,000 are currently active in the business and the Strategy Plan is to extend that to 27,000 people.
The Castle, they tell us, used to be the Training College for Irish Foresters. Will there be fiddlers and musicianers of one kind or another? Can't say, but the three days, next Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 9th, 10th and 11th, should be something. Mairead O'Donovan, Forestry Ireland, Lower Kilmacud Road, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin, 01-278 1874 knows all about it.